Berkeley: Campus, city police nab 2 men after armed robberies

BERKELEY--Berkeley police have arrested two men following armed robberies near the UC Berkeley campus that occurred within minutes of each other Tuesday morning.

The first incident occurred at 1:30 a.m. on the corner of Durant Avenue and College Avenue when two suspects approached a student, pointed a gun at him and searched him, taking his wallet, cell phone and other personal property.

The victim was able to get away and flag down campus police, who broadcast a description of the suspects and their vehicle.

City of Berkeley police located and stopped a vehicle matching the description of the suspects' Mercedes. While officers were stopping the car, they received a call about another man, who was hit with a gun and robbed in front of the Durant Hotel at 2600 Durant Ave. The suspects were identified by both victims and the victims' property and a gun was found in the suspects' vehicle.

The suspects were identified as Matthew Simpkins, 24, and Ryan Wong, 26. Both were booked into the Berkeley jail and were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.